GB2477720A

GB2477720A - Safety strap for guiding a group of children

Info

Publication number: GB2477720A
Application number: GB1002058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Orr
Original assignee: LOUISE RIDLEY
Current assignee: LOUISE RIDLEY
Priority date: 2010-02-09
Filing date: 2010-02-09
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Also published as: GB201002058D0

Abstract

A multi-child safety strap 1 of adjustable length is made of flexible material and has handle loops 2 formed at each end for teachers or adults to hold onto. Individual child straps 4 that can be secured to a child's wrist are threaded onto the main strap in between the teachers or adults. The safety strap allows for the control and management of the individual children. Because the individual straps are able to slide along the main strap, the children's arms are free to move and swing whilst being tethered to the main strap unit. Up to twenty individual straps may be secured to the main strap, each may be adjustable in length.

Description

I

TITLE

Multi-Child Safety strap

Background

This invention relates to a multi child safety strap for transporting pre-school and primary school age children when away from the classroom and school.

When children of this age are moving away from the school, whether that is on excursions or to local amenities, they are often controlled near to roads and other potentially dangerous locations. Our research has shown that current methods of transport are holding hands, holding onto a rope and holding teachers / Adults hands.

Recent research has shown that Children up to the age of 9 do not have the skill and ability to be safe in traffic on their own. Children have difficulty in using the road safely because they: * Are unable to judge speed and distance accurately * May concentrate for only short periods of time * May notice only one thing at a time e.g. Vehicles travelling on one side of the road only * Have trouble working out where sounds come from * Are small and cannot see over cars and bushes and drivers often cannot see children * Are on the move and may forget to stop at a kerb * Have a reduced ability to notice objects in their side vision * May imitate inappropriate adult behaviour such as running across the road

Statement of Invention

To overcome this safety issue, this present invention proposes a safety strap to assist in the safe transportation of up to 20 nursery and primary aged children, whilst away from the main school.

The High Visibility main strap has looped handles at both front and back ends for the teachers I Adults to hold onto. Each individual child has an individual strap which has an adjustable buckle and is fixed direct to their wrists. The individual child straps have a fixed loop that fits over the main body of the main strap. Each individual child's strap can be threaded onto the main strap and moved along the line. The children are then free to move along the line allowing for movement of their arm that is attached to the strap. It is intended to utilise the strap for between 5-20 children.

The invention has been designed so that the lead teacher/adult can feel if a child is trying to pull away from the line. The child pulling will also have great difficulty in pulling out of line due to the weight of the child in front andlor behind. The idea is to stop/delay the child in moving out into the road or any other dangerous area, whilst giving a warning to the teacher/adult that a child is moving out of line.

When walking alongside a road, children are often difficult to manage. The slightest second can make a huge difference in controlling a child.

Advantages The main advantage of this product is that it ensures that children cannot move into a dangerous area without the teacher/adult being made aware. This design will also increase the time that a child would take in moving out of line and give sufficient time for a parentlteacher to act and make sure that the child is safe.

Children are able to move their limbs freely in a swinging motion whilst being retained on the main strap Children can be safely moved between 2 Adults / teachers, allowing any other responsible adults to assist in monitoring the children The high visibility main strap will add to the visual awareness of young children to other road users or individuals.

Can assist in retaining a group of children in a straight line, making them easier to control and manage.

Detailed Description

The main strap (Master strap) is 4 meters in length and has an adjustable strap on the front and rear of the master strap for use by teachers or adults in charge of the group.

The Strap is made of high visibility material to ensure visual awareness.

The main strap can be reduced in size to allow for the monitoring of a smaller number of children and is made from high tenacity polyester yarn. Each end of the main strap is formed in a loop that allows the lead parent/teacher to hold onto the main strap. The individual child straps are also made or High tenacity polyester Yam and have an Adjustable plastic reducer so that they can fit securely around the child's wrist. The Individual child straps have a fixed loop that can be easily slid onto the Master strap dependant on number of children being moved. Each child can attach their own straps to their own wrists and then slot themselves onto the master strap in order of transportation. The individual child straps then allow movement of the arm and movement along the master strap if required.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings which; Figure 1 Show the main multi child safety strap Figure 2 Shows the individual child strap In Figure 1, the main strap (I) which is made of high visibility polyester at 38-50mm in width shows an adjustable buckle (3), which allows for the main strap to be adjusted in length. The original length of the main strap is 4 meters, but can be deducted to 2.5 meters. The end of the main straps has constructed loops (2), which allow for the controlling adult to hold onto. The individual child strap (4) which is made of polyester measuring approx 20nmi in width, shows a constructed loop which is sewn allowing the individual strap to slide onto the main strap (1). The individual child straps (4) have an adjustable buckle (5) which allows for the child's wrist to be securely fitted to the individual strap. Figure 1 shows just one individual child's strap whereas up to 20 individual straps can be used on the main strap (1).

In Figure 2, the individual child strap (4) shows how the unit slides over the main strap a I

Claims

Claims 1. A multi child safety strap which can be adjusted in length and allows for individual child restraining straps to be connected to the main strap.
2. A multi child safety strap according to claim 1, in which the main strap has constructed loops at a prescribed diameter at either end for holding onto and supporting the main strap.
3. A multi child safety strap according to claim i, in which the main strap has individual child straps that can slide over the main strap allowing for free movement of the child's limbs whilst allowing the child's strap to be connected to the main strap.
4. A multi child safety strap according to claim 3 which has individual child straps which have adjustable straps to tether the child's wrist and slot onto the Main strap. *.I. * * ***.**0*00 * S * ** * S * .. SS S..S **.SS S...S *S*S